Cavs To Face Irish In Kickoff Classic

Virginia's football team will play national champion Notre Dame in the season-opening Kickoff Classic at the Meadowlands, the Charlottesville Daily Progress reported Friday.

The game is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 31.

Jay Rosenfeld, the assistant director in charge of Meadowlands sports, would not confirm the report, saying that Notre Dame and Virginia were among a number of teams under consideration.

"Nothing's official yet," Rosenfeld said. "With games like this, it's real easy for things to fall through at the last minute."

But the Progress, citing sources close to Virginia, said an agreement already has been reached.

John Heisler of Notre Dame's sports information office said Friday that the Fighting Irish had informed Kickoff Classic officials a year ago that they would be interested in playing in the game if invited.

"Certainly, we'd be interested in having the defending national champion," Rosenfeld said, "and if they're interested in coming ..."

Virginia's participation in the game fulfills a requirement the Kickoff Classic established in which each major football conference would be represented.

The Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pac-10 are the only conferences that haven't been represented in the game.

The Kickoff Classic hasn't had the defending national champion in the last three years.

The Classic reportedly originally sought UCLA to face Notre Dame, but the Bruins declined because of academic considerations.

Many of UCLA's football players are finishing summer school at that time.

The Pac-10's other national power, Southern California, plays Notre Dame during the regular season.

The ACC teams under consideration, Rosenfeld said, were Clemson, Virginia and North Carolina State.

"Despite the fact that Virginia isn't a household word in college football, they'd certainly warrant an invitation," Rosenfeld said. "They finished second in the league two years in a row and it looks like they're going to be a pretty good team.

"They have 18 starters back, a quarterback who is potentially a marquee player, and George Welsh, who is an excellent game coach."

Virginia was scheduled to open its season Sept. 2 against William and Mary. But that game reportedly will be moved to Sept. 30, which is currently an open date on the Cavaliers' schedule.